Sedrick Hammond leads Faith Lutheran past Liberty, 79-72

Sedrick Hammond had 22 points and five rebounds, and the Crusaders overcame a spectacular effort by Liberty’s Julian Strawther to claim a 79-72 victory Saturday at Bishop Gorman.

By Damon Seiters Las Vegas Review-Journal

December 15, 2018 - 8:15 pm

Faith Lutheran's Sedrick Hammond (4) shoots the ball over Liberty's Jordan Bohnet (15) and Terrance Marigney (13) during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty's Julian Strawther (0) tries to persuade a referee for possession on an out of bounds call in the first quarter of the game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty head coach Stefan Berg talks to Kobe Stroughter (1) the second quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty's Julian Strawther (0) rebounds the ball in the second quarter of the game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Raymond Rosolino (14) passes the ball around Liberty's Jordan Bohnet (15) in the second quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Donavan Jackson (2) shoots the ball in the second quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Azavier Johnson (5) shoots the ball during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty's Julian Strawther (0) dribbles the ball down the court during the second quarter of the game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty's Victor Epstein(12) dribbles the ball between Faith Lutheran defenders during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Azavier Johnson (5) shoots the ball over Liberty's Terrance Marigney (13) during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Brevin Walter (23) calls out defensive coverage in the fourth quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran head coach Bret Walter talks to Donavan Jackson (2) during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Donavan Jackson (2) dribbles the ball past Liberty's Julian Strawther (0) during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty's Julian Strawther (0) reacts to a foul call in the fourth quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran head coach Bret Walter shouts to his team during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty's Julian Strawther (0) draws a foul in the first quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Azavier Johnson (5) blocks a shot from Liberty's Jordan Wafer (22) during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Sedrick Hammond (4) goes for a dunk over Liberty's Lehi Ausage (10) during a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

A loose ball slips through the hands of Faith Lutheran's Raymond Rosolino (14) in the fourth quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberty head coach Stefan Berg talks to his team during a time out in a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Faith Lutheran's Brevin Walter (23) goes for a lay up over liberty defenders in the fourth quarter of a game between Liberty High School and Faith Lutheran at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Faith Lutheran won 79-72. Brett Le Blanc Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sedrick Hammond’s first game for Faith Lutheran was one he’d probably like to forget.

His second certainly was memorable.

Hammond had 22 points and five rebounds, and the Crusaders overcame a spectacular effort by Liberty’s Julian Strawther to claim a 79-72 victory Saturday at Bishop Gorman.

“He played really focused and confident tonight,” Faith Lutheran coach Bret Walter said. “He really wanted to prove to everybody the other night, and he got a couple quick fouls and was really a nonfactor in the game.”

Hammond was cleared to play this past week after transferring from Cathedral (California), but had just four points in a 70-65 home loss to Palo Verde on Thursday.

On Saturday, Hammond’s play helped offset a 43-point outburst by Strawther. The 6-foot-7-inch forward scored 26 points and hit five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Liberty rally.

“Incredible,” Walter said of Strawther. “His shooting range and his shooting ability makes him that much tougher. And then he elevates when he shoots the ball, so if you don’t have a guy that’s close to his size, he can get his shot off. I really enjoy watching him play.”

Faith Lutheran led 51-39 entering the fourth quarter before Strawther led the comeback. He used a crossover dribble to free himself on the left wing and drained a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to tie the game at 72.

Hammond answered with a driving layup, and the Crusaders closed the game on a 7-0 run.

Brevin Walter, the coach’s son, scored 19 points, all in the second half.

“He’s confident,” Bret Walter said of his son. “He’s just going to keep working. He came out and had a huge second half for us. Sedrick hit a few big ones in the first half, and Brevin hit a few big ones in the second half.”